Monday Morning

The start of another week...  I will fill you in tonight on todays events. For now here is the daily mantra;

Forgiveness is a selfish act because it primarily benefits the one doing the forgiving. So BE SELFISH!!!

Daily Mantra: Forgive

I, (say your name), now release (say their name) with love. I let you go in peace with loving kindness and detachment from the outcome. I am free. You are free. We are happy to the good of all parties concerned. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

3 more down!

So far the UltraSimple Diet is going well. I have lost 3 pounds in the last two days. I am not hungry and I am drinking water like a fish!!! I had a great workout yesterday with "Firm Cardio Sculpt". I am really happy with the way I am progressing and even more important I feel good.

Menu:
Upon Waking: Hot water with the juice of 1/2 a lemon
Breakfast: UltraShake -- basically my normal smoothie with lots of flax and healthy stuff added, tastes a little like drinking a fruity granola bar.
Snack: LaraBar
Lunch: 1/2 cup brown rice and 1/2 beans
Snack: apple
Supper: Salmon filet, brown rice and steamed broccoli

And of course 64 ounces of water along the way.

Before bed: 20 min yoga
UltraBath and Journaling

That is my plan for today.

Mantra of the Day: "The more faithfully you listen to the voice within you, the better you will hear what is sounding outside." Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld
When I practice yoga the greatest challenge is focusing my thoughts internally. It is so easy to be distracted by all the "noise" the world assaults me with. Learning to focus and listen to the voice within me is difficult, I am working on it. I am sure that once I master the art of self awareness I will see the world and myself more clearly.

Someone asked me -- So I am going to tell you. My starting weight was 178lbs. My goal weight is 135lbs (which I think may be a little unrealistic since the last time I weighted 135lbs I was 15 years old) I think I would be happy with 145lbs.  So I am trying to loose around 30-40lbs. Maybe I should just split the difference :)
My BMI is 25.54 -- my goal BMI is 18
On the UltraSlim Health Tracker Quiz I scored a 142 -- that is REALLY HIGH!! Obviously I would like to be less toxic as well.

skip the seaweed

My family is gagging -- I made the "UltraBroth" for the UltraSimple Diet and I followed the directions. I even went to the local health food store to purchase unusual ingredients. Well, I should have skipped the seaweed. My house currently smells worse than the Monterey Bay and I am a little anxious about tasting the soup!

Book Review

I read UltraMetabolism and found it to be very interesting and surely accurate -- but also a little complicated and confusing. So I broke down and purchased the UltraSimple Diet for my Kindle. I am following the program for the next two weeks - since I don't think I can really review a diet book without trying the advice within. The program is, as advertised, simple. Actually, it resembles a detox I did three years ago, though this program is more developed and founded on medical principle. Anyway, the detox three years ago helped me loose 20 pounds -- I kept it off for a little over a year (darn military moves!!). I predict that I will have a great deal of success with this program.

So far this morning I have done 20 minutes of yoga and consumed 16 ounces of detoxifying herbal tea. This is my "prep" week, as recommended. I will not be doing the complete UltraSimple Diet program, I will be preparing myself for the 7 day detox. This includes eliminating dairy, eggs, gluten, nightshades and sugar from my diet and practicing 20 minutes of yoga morning and night. The program also recommends 20 minutes of journaling morning and night.

Mantra of the Day: "I will own my life. I will forget excuses and embrace responsibility. I will cast off the false assertions of others that I am responsible for their choices, actions, relationships, and so on. I will be true to myself and my God. I will act in a manner which will, in my own opinion, constitute my own happiness."
Me, 2009

I wrote this pledge in February 2009. I recorded it in my journal. I read it yesterday as I was flipping through the filled pages, looking for inspiration. I say "amen" wholeheartedly to the words I found and rerecorded here. I will own my life!
On another note, journals are important! I have often found that the answer to a problem today may be found in the words of yesterday. I believe that one of the few reasons my life is not a constant repetitive cycle of identical challenges is my journaling. The opportunity to recall and learn from the past is immeasurably valuable. I was impressed when the UltraSimple Diet suggested journaling morning and night. I think that is a very wise suggestion and cathartic exercise.
I actually have a great uncle whose consistent journaling provided evidence utilized in a court of law -- that is something!

Hello Again

It has been a few days -- and not a whole lot has happened. I did realize the importance of a "reward" to motivate me to get up at 4:30am to workout! I have been sleeping in this week and I do not feel very royal -- just lazy. So I have set a reward, three actually - Gold, Silver and Bronze - for my work out goals for the next 12 months. I am REALLY excited about the gold level reward and it is totally enough to get me sweating before sunrise :)

Menu:

Breakfast: Light and Fit Vanilla Yogurt, Toast with Almond butter
Lunch: Dahl Soup, Pineapple, WATER!!!
Snack: More Pineapple, YUM!
Supper: Tuna Salad with red romaine lettuce and rice vinegar dressing

I have lost 8 lbs -- but I am stuck, probably because I haven't been getting up to work out. I am determined to 'win the gold' so I hope the extra effort will take me from the 170s into the 160s next week. I will keep you posted.

Mantra of the Day: As a man thinketh - so is he!
I am trying to master my thoughts and saturate my mind with positivity and a belief in my capability and potential. There is overwhelming evidence that positive thinking can greatly impact an individual life.  I am determined to re-train myself to see and be POSITIVE!

Never Forgotten

This day, currently frought with controversy and contention, is one that will always transport me back to the moments when I learned of the 9/11 attacks. The images, the fist that sat on my chest as I watched and prayed for the victims struggling to survive. As an ARMY wife I have heard many things about the resulting wars and the political contentions surrounding this tragic day. For me nothing is so clear as the duty that calls us to restore security and peace to our great nation. The truest and most lasting peace must be won, it is never given or granted in political manipulation. The truest peace comes only with victory. Let us not forget. Let us keep our resolve. The task we have taken is not easy, but we are committed. Let us refuse the simpering lies of those who would see us destroyed. Let us unite against those that would deceive and lead us with a flaxen cord into hell. Let us stand proud and sure in our Freedom for our homes, our families and ourselves.

Never Forget.

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Some people bound out of bed early every morning and greet the sun with cheery anticipation of the adventures the day will bring. I am not one of those people! I generally roll out of bed and sluggishly crawl to the bathroom, brush my teeth and pull on my workout clothes. Once dressed I sit on the floor and watch the warm up section of my workout video, all the while trying to talk myself up to standing. Eventually I begin moving with the eternally chipper aerobics instructor on the TV and soon I am even bouncing a bit. By the end of the 45 minute workout my eyes are stinging from sweat and I am finally awake. Some of us take a little longer to 'rise' than others. :)
Maybe one day I will be conditioned into an early morning serenity -- but today is not that day!

Mantra of the Day: Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly -- Mae West

Contrary to popular belief life is better when appreciated at an un-rushed pace.  My husband and I have noticed that we are unaccustomed to the "American" pace. In Africa we became used to a more relaxed daily schedule. We awoke when we had rested enough. We scheduled our daily activities in a general agenda -- subject to change. We went to the cafe with friends at 9:00pm and enjoyed a slower pace. Now that we are home we have found it a bit jarring to resume the American pace of life. Rushing to get to lessons, practices, classes, WalMart, Hyvee and on and on and on. It seems that by the time supper and bedtime come around I have been run off my feet all day long. There has to be a happy medium. I am trying to find that balance. 

By the way....I love Mae West! She was a curvy, voluptuous and unapologetic WOMAN. If I had to pick a physical ideal for myself it would be a tie between Sophia Loren and Mae West. We should all take a second look at these 'real' women. They were BEA-U-TI-FUL and not too tiny! Forget the Twiggy, tiny versions of femininity that are thrust on us from every angle of media and pop culture -- I choose to revive WOMEN! Mae West and Sophia Loren -- I salute you!

Diet: Breakfast- Banana Smoothie, vitamins, 16 ounces water

Snack- Kashi granola bar

Lunch- Peanut Butter on Whole Wheat Toast, 8 ounces water and an Apple

Snack- Light and Fit Lime flavored yogurt, 8 ounces water

Supper- Tortilla Soup with extra beans, 16 ounces water

Family, Fun and .......SUGAR!

I love visiting my family in Missouri. The farm is so full of life and wholesome adventure. The people are like the Walton Family and the Cartwrights put together. We laugh and have LOUD discussions about politics and the state of the world. Usually the women move into another room, to give our ears a break from the loud voices,  while the men solve societies problems -- AGAIN. Unfortunately, as soon as I drive up the dirt driveway to the old farm house all my dieter's resolve melts away. The Missouri Taylor women can cook like nothing else! And they are not too concerned with calories. There is always a wonderful concoction of beans and bacon. Grandma's potato casserole is heavenly .... and has enough butter and cheese to stop one's heart. Then there are usually brownies, cheesecake and Grandma's famous blueberry cobbler. Needless to say, there is no dieting on the farm!

I am home now. I will weigh myself on Thursday. The next three days may be a little intense -- I have to pay the piper sometime :)

I have come to the conclusion that I am a sugar addict. I know that this is said in jest by women around the world (probably all North American expats) -- but I am serious.  I am seriously considering adding the AA serenity prayer to my morning meditation! I wonder why there is an Overeaters Anonymous and not a Sugar Addict Anonymous? Really, there must be more women at home craving a bar of chocolate or a bag of NIBS than, well, almost anything else. I am certain that I have met more women that crave sugar than crave salty treats. At the Cinderella Pact meeting last Thursday 5 of 6 women admitted that sugar is their preferred poison. Aren't we supposed to be made of sugar? That is how the nursery rhyme goes; Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice. That's what little girls are made of.    Well, we were doomed from the start! "I wasn't trying to give myself a myriad of life threatening issues. I was just trying to keep my composition well stocked with the proper materials!"
The book I have been reading ... review to come.... has focused a lot on the glycemic index and type two diabetes. I have FAILED many of the quizzes, by my own assessment, and it seems that I am fast on my way to some serious sugar related issues. So I am going COLD TURKEY -- again -- after a weekend of cookies, cheesecake and all other things sweet and nice, oh yea, there was a morning with Krispy Kremes for breakfast, YUM!
I commit to removing all sugar from my diet and I promise, myself, that no travel plans or social intercourse will interfere with my resolve. 

Mantra of the Day:  “I, [Your Name], choose only nourishing foods and drinks, which keep me slim, toned and healthy.” Today I am focusing on preparing my mind to believe I have the ability to overcome my previous habits. It is important when embarking on such an endeavor to believe that you can achieve your goal. So along the lines of positive thinking and believing in one's self today's mantra is literally telling myself -- I CAN DO IT!

Ahhhh, technology!

My scale was broken .... bummer. Too many moves I guess. I purchased a new one. No fancy bells or whistles, because really do I want to know how much water I am retaining or my true body fat percentage? NO! The new scale says that I have lost 8lbs since I began the Cinderella pact. Not too shabby.
I have found some music that I absolutely love for meditation. Don't laugh, it is the music for reading CD from the Target Lifestyles CDs. You know the ones by the stationary where you can push a button and listen to an excerpt of the music? It is full of classical music, which I love. I also have felt transcendent while listening to Andre Boccelli's Sacred Arias. I have performed many of the songs on that CD and so I have a personal connection to them. It also helps that I know the meaning behind the Italian. I would highly recommend adding soft music to your meditation time. I also have candles. I like to meditate in the morning before my family wakes up. It is dark and quiet and no one needs anything. :)

Mantra of the Day: Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.
-- James Allen  In recent years there has been an explosion of positive thinking in the self help genre. Books like The Secret and The Power of Positive Thinking have awakened individuals to their power over themselves. I would like to declare that this is nothing new and site an ancient reference. Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart so is he..."   Positive thinking is not some mystical magic of the universe. It is a promise from God. As you think, as you believe so will you be. So think good things, believe and hope and dream. Let your thoughts inspire positive actions. Do and be all that you dream and you will become all that you think you are. BEWARE: This works both ways. We are geniuses at destroying ourselves in our own minds. If you allow yourself to be degraded within your own mind you will become and remain all that you loathe. God loves us all. He desires, as a father, the most wonderful and glorious things for each of us. Trust in him. Believe that you are a princess, more royal than Cinderella, you are the daughter of a Heavenly King. 

Workout: I have been riding my bike, indoor and outdoor. My stationary bike is nothing extraordinary, but it does the job. I read recently that I should try to ride my stationary bike without leaning on the handles and supporting my body weight. I did, it worked, I was totally pooped! I added weights yesterday to my stationary bike ride. Nothing to impressive just two and five pound dumbells. I did curls and french press whenever my riding cycle was easy enough to let go of the handles. I really enjoy riding my bike outside -- but the Kansas weather is unpredictable and ooooh the wind! I am just waiting for the day when the wind picks me up. Unfortunately, I will probably look more like the wicked witch on my bike than Dorothy :)

Diet:  

Breakfast- Blueberry Smoothie, see former posts for recipe, 8 ounces water

Snack - Apple and Peanut Butter, 8 ounces water

Lunch - Light and Fit Yogurt; vanilla with fresh rasberries, Deli Turkey rolled around carrot sticks, 16 ounces water

Snack - LARABAR, cherry pie

Supper - Quesadilla salad; lettuce with corn, black beans, avocado, chicken breast and salsa. 24 ounces water with lime.

I am actually surprised, I haven't once felt deprived or hungry. I haven't had anything besides water as a beverage for a week.. and I feel better than I have in a long time. I do recognize when I need to drink water more easily now. I have probably been living in a constant state of dehydration for the past, well at least three years.